not fluent at times, soon led, ridden and joined 3 out, mistake and headed next, not fluent next, plugged on one pace
raced wide in rear, pushed along 13th, weakened 15th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, joined leader 3 out, led next, ridden out
tracked leaders, lost place 8th, in touch when jumped slow 10th, weakened 14th, pulled up before next
in touch, ridden and struggling from15th, tailed off
tracked leader until ridden 3 out, weakened next
Winning point-to-pointer OMAR MARETTI has won three of his four starts under Rules, two of them over hurdles on this track. He showed that stamina is his forte when scoring over fences at just short of three miles at Newcastle last time and can continue his upward curve. The Paddy Pie has plenty of experience at this sort of level though has never won over the trip but Brian Boranha won over the course and distance in November and is just 1lb higher. Winds Of Fire disappointed at Ascot last time but Almazhar Garde was clear at this trip when just touched off over 3m6f here last month and is well up to this at his best.
Almazhar Garde (FR) 10-3 (11-12) Tracked leading pair, led 8th, bumped next, headed 15th, led again before hit 3 out, 3 lengths ahead at the last, hard ridden run-in, headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Supreme Escape (10-9) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Marown (IRE) 5-1fav (11-10) Mid-division, towards rear, 5th, struggling 15th, well beaten before 4 out, 9th of 13, 22 1/2l behind One More Fleurie (10-12) at Ayr 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Omar Maretti (IRE) Evensfav (11-0) Led, headed 5th, jumped right 13th, not fluent 4 out, soon pushed along, led approaching 2 out, stayed on from last, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Jan beating Come On Teddy (11-8) by 3 3/4l, 4 ran.
Winds Of Fire (USA) 3-1fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, stumbled badly 12th, some headway on inside approaching 15th, weakened 4 out, 7th of 10, 30 3/4l behind Cat Tiger (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Brian Boranha (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, closed 5th, went 3rd after 14th, no impression, well held from 4 out, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 7, 16 1/4l behind Pookie Pekan (11-1) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
The Paddy Pie (IRE) 4-1 (10-1) Chased leader, led briefly 1st, lost 2nd at 5th, chased leaders, went 2nd again 9th, every chance 3 out, ridden before next, 1 length down at the last, stayed on run-in, just held, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Mr Whipped (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
